TEEN BOXER JONAS GARCIA DIES AFTER COMATOSE
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 15 Dec 2013
The 16-year-old high school student from Bulacan who competed in the boxing match of the Central Luzon Regional Athletic Association in Iba, Zambales died after being in a state of comatose for days. This was announced by the Department of Education or DepEd as reported by ABS-CBN.
?DepEd is deeply saddened by the loss of Jonas Joshua Garcia. We may not fully know why sad things like this happen, however, we hope that it will help for the family of Jonas to know that in this time of sorrow, their extended DepEd family cares and that our thoughts and prayers shall always be with them forever,? Assistant Education Secretary Tonisito Umali said in a press statement.
According to reports, Garcia's nose began to bleed in the first round but the attending ring physician cleared the young boxer and allowed him to continue fighting.
Garcia complained of dizziness at the second round of the match and the referee stopped the fight immediately. He was immediately brought to the hospital where he lied in state of coma for days. The doctor diagnosed him to have suffered of internal hemorrhage and was declared "brain dead."
Garcia was rushed to the UST hospital intensive care unit but did not recover anymore till his life ended. His father, grandfather and twin brother was at his bedside. His mother is expected to arrive from Japan where she was working.
The Bulacan team withdrew all 10 amateur boxers from the Regional meet. The team also recommended the abolition all combat sports such as boxing, taekwondo and arnis in future athletic competitions of the DepEd.
Bulacan won the overall championship of the CLRAA, but they were not happy having lost a team member.
According to GMA news, the twin brother Ralph Raven Garcia said it was he who was supposed to be competing in the CLRAA, but Jonas told him to stay and went on to join the Bulacan team in his place and instead suffered the tragic fate.
Assistant Secretary Umali said they are now studying the possibility of excluding boxing and other contact sports like wrestling, wushu, arnis and taekwondo from the Palarong Pambansa, resulting from Garcia's accident.
But per Republic Act 10588, these sports are mandated for inclusion in the DepEd athletic events. Any amendment shall be approved by Congress.
In an interview with ABS-CBN's Dyan Castillejo, Congressman Manny Pacquiao said he offered prayers for Garcia. But he said the incident should not stop amateur boxing especially among the young because it is the country's sources for future Olympic fighters and medalists.
Pacquiao started as an amateur pugilist at a young age of 14. He gained 60 wins against 4 losses before becoming the Philippines? and Asia's most dominant boxer of all time as a professional.
The fighting congressman encouraged stricter measures to be implemented to prevent similar accidents to happen. He urged the boxers to undergo regular medical checkup since boxing is a full contact sport.
Most of the boxers were dismayed when the boxing competition was put to a halt in the CLRAA. The region will no longer have representatives to the Palarong Pambansa.
"On the part of the frustration of the boxers I would just like to ask for their extra consideration for this time... I'm sure it has also a psychological impact on the rest of the boxers," said Isabelita Borres, regional director of DepEd Central Luzon as reported by ABS-CBN.
The National Bureau of Investigation will conduct its own probe on the referees, judges, physician, officials, coaches and athletes of the boxing matches. Earlier DepEd cleared the organizers of any liability and declared that there were no flaws in the conduct of the boxing tournament.
Photo: Jonas Joshua Garcia in comatose at the intensive care unit.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
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